Combination infant&#39;s swing and weighing apparatus



Jan. 15, 1935. DAVIS 1,988,166

COMBINATION INFANTS SWING AND WEIGHING-APPARATUS,

Filed March 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTOHNEY5 Jan. 15, 1935. J. DAVIS COMBINATION INFANTS SWING AND WEIGHING' APPARATUS Filed March 22, 1934 2-Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION mr Nrs SWING WEIGHING APPARATUS James L. Davis, Andalusia, Ala., assignor to Philip J. Cannon, Cincinnati, Ohio Application March 22, 1934, Serial No. 716,855

3 Claims.

selectively from either the spring balance or penders, in one instance for swinging and in the other for weighing.

An object of the invention is to provide an infants swing with weighing means for taking thechilds weight at will, while either in a seated or reposed position in the swing.

Another object of the invention is to embody weighing means in an'infants swing in the form of a spring balance from which the seat-can be arbitrarily suspended by slackening the susponders normally employed for swingingly suspending the seat.

Another" object of the invention is to provide an infantsswing embodying meansfor yieldingly teetering theseat, the seat convertible into a crib, and for weighing the infant while either his. seated or reposed position in the swing, the seat suspended within a trestle collapsible for com= pacting the apparatus for transportation or storage, easily set up, and for either out or indoor use.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings form: ing apart of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved combined childs swing'andwe'ighing apparatus convertible into a swinging crib, the drawings 4 showing the crib or basket folded into-a seat, and the dot-and-dash lines showin f v portion of the seat or sk w n downw rdly in th act f w n n e am ear-w ird y n a nes e r lation with the rear section of the basket toconvert it into a seat open at its forward end.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2, Figurev 1.

FigureB is a section on line 31-3, Figure2.

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary view of the rear upper portion of the crib or basket when converted or collapsed into a seat.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the crib or basket.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6, Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7, Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a foldable or knock-down frame of trestle-type, consisting of four diverging posts 2, rigidly connected together in pairs by connecting-slats 3, 3, respectively atthe top and toward the bottom of the posts of a pair. Each post consists of a pair of sections hin gedly connected for callapsing the frame and the post sections held in their erected position by a clip 4, the clip at one end pivotally connected to one section and at its opposite end interlocking with a pin or screw on the second section. The posts in pairs are hingedly connect ed at the top end by web plates 5, 5, each rigidly fixed to an end of one of the opposing posts'and pivotally connected'to the other. 6 indicates a tie strip or rod, one for each opposing pair of posts,

each having ably clipped its opposite ends respectively remov: 1 to the respective posts for holding the framework rigidly in an erect position. The trestle maybe of any type of construction, either knockdown orpermanently erected, the knock-.

down type adapting the same to be compactly folded for shipment or storage. r

A crank rod '7 normally serving as a rotatable cross beam for supporting through an thereof is bent at an angle the crib 8 is engaged journaled in the plates 5. One end to provide a handle 9 and the opposite end exterior of the web plate carries a cotter pin 10 to prevent longitudinal displacement of the rod. The crib or seat is suspended from the crank red by a pair of spaced hinge clips each provid chain is linked to 11 each looped about'the rod and ing a limb to which jone end of a 12 is linked. The opposite end of the chain a cross bar 13 which connects the crib supporting chains 12 at their lower ends.

The cross b an 13 at its opposite ends connects with a second cross bar 14 parallel therewith by a pair of springs 15, 15, their opposite ends respectively l inked to the cross bars and provide a flexible connection for yieldingly sustaining the crib. The crib connects with the second cross bar 14 by a pair of straps 16, 16, respectively engaged over the opposite ends of the cross bar,

each strap intermediately engaged over the cross bar and permanently fixed thereon as by tack or bolt and at one or rear end carries a link 1'7 for permanently connecting the same with the rear upper end of the crib or seat and the opposide or forward end of the strap provided with a snap hook for removably connecting the same to the forward end of the crib or to the forward end of the seat when the crib or basket is converted into The crib a seat. or basket constitutes a pair of sections, one foldable upon or within the other to form a seat,

and consists of a pair of bar metal enabling th e same to be folded one over the other in a nested relationship, as shown in Figure 1.

The body of the basket comprises a piece of fabric cut to a pattern to provide a base portion 19 and side portions 20 folded perpendicular to the base, with the free ends or edges hemmed about the corresponding portion foldable frame sections 18.

The frame sections at their hinged ends con nect with a cross rod 21 as a fulcrum or pivot for the sections, the rod having its opposite ends headed to prevent longitudinal displacement. The bar when the sections are folded to form a seat, serves as a front guard. The ends of the rear frame sections extend slightly beyond their pivot connection with the ends of the front frame section ,and are bent outwardly at an angle thereto to overlie and respectively contact with the side portions or limbs of the front section to provide stops as shown in Figure 5, limiting or checking the swing of the sections when erected into an elongated rectangular frame unit to hold the same against collapsing or folding downwardly when the device is suspended by both of the sections as shown in Figure 5, by straps 16, 16.

The corresponding forward ends of each of the straps, by means of a snap hook 22, connect with the cross bar portion of the front frame section as through openings 23 therethrough, and the opposite or rear end of the straps eachis permanently linked to the cross bar portion of the rear frame section.

The longitudinal sides of the fabric basket are notched or cut-out as at 24 about the hinged connection of the frame sections to accommodate the parts to be folded one over and upon the other to bring the front half portion of the receptacle backwardlybeneath and into nested relation with the rear portion for converting the same into a seat. In converting the basket into a seat the snap hooks 22 of the forward end of the straps are disconnected from the forward end I zontal position.

of the front frame section and connected with the cross rod 21 to sustain the seat in a hori- The straps are connected'or fixed to the lower cross bar 14 at an intermediate or midway point and extend therefrom in equal lengths to horizontally support 01' suspend. the

receptacle in either its erected form, as a basket,

or collapsed form as a seat which increases its elevation from the floor in one instance and. in another being slightly lower as a seat which is of advantage. It however is obvious to provide for strap adjustment should occasion require.

The base of the basket, centrally thereof, is provided with a strap 25 adapted to extend upwardly or perpendicularly therefrom with its free end having a hook for connecting the same to the cross rod 21 to be of service when the receptacle is collapsed into its seat form, providing a crotch for the open side of the seat to be straddled by the limbs of the child, preventing it from slipping out.

The receptacle is readily and easily interchanged or converted from a basket into a seat, or vice versa, and, in the form of a basket, serves as a 'bed or crib into which the child can be placed in a reclined position, the depth of the basket allowing for the insertion of a cushion or pillow.

Under systematic care of infants, daily or periodic measurements of the infants weight are to be taken and the measuring devices now usually included as a nursery appurtenance are costly and unless they are equipped with a basket to receive the infant, make weighing an infant very troublesome. A spring balance is a very compact and cheap type of weighing device and while largely used in nurseries, requires the infant to be wrapped in swaddling bands with which there is always a hazard unless extreme precaution is taken to have the bands secure. In the present apparatus therefore, provision has been made for weighing the infant at will and without inconvenience while it occupies the swing either in a seated or reclined position. A spring balance 26 with a revolving pointer is connected and interposed between the crank rod '7 and upper cross bar 13 and centrally thereof.

The crank rod 7 intermediate of its length is provided with an offset bend 27 forming a crank to which a hinge leaf 28 is pivotally connected. The hinge leaf 28 is linked to the framing or casing 29 of the spring balance by a pair of chains 30, 30, connecting with the upper side of the spring balance at relatively opposite sides of a central vertical line therethrough, the double connection preventing tilting of the spring balance. The spring balance centrally at its lower side connects with the upper cross rod 13 by a link 31. Normally the crank rod is disposed with its crank portion downwardly as shown in Figure 1, to suspend the crib or seat by means of the chains 12, 12, thereby slacking the linkage or connections joining the spring balance with the crank rod and cross bar 13, relieving the spring from any load sustention, rendering the same inactive.

Upon rotating the crank the half revolution in either direction, bringing its crank portion to an upward position, slackens the chains 12, 12, thereby transferring the load to the spring balance for indicating the weight of the load suspended therefrom. This action need be only momentary, the operator shifting and holding the rod for the weight measuring period.

The spring balance employed adds only a nominal cost to the apparatus and in the form disclosed, comprises a sheet metal rectangular casing 29 which, at its upper end, is linked to the crank bar as previously described. A coil spring 32 is longitudinally mounted within the casing, its upper end connected to the upper or top'wall of the casing by a screw 33 and its opposite end connects with a bar 34 slidably engaged through the lower wall of the casing and linked to the top cross bar 13.

The slide bar 34 has a laterally extended stem 35 connecting with a rack bar 36 slidably supported upon the rear face of a dial 37. The teeth of the rack bar mesh with a pinion 38 fixed upon a stud journaled upon the dial with the forward end of the shaft carrying a pointer 39. The dial is providedwith a hinged cover as a front face closure, the inside of the cover furnishing a space for measuring tabulations or schedules.

When the apparatus is being used with the receptacle set up as a basket, serving as a bed or crib, see Figure 5, there might be some tendency for the basket to tip or become over-balanced as would be the case when the childs weight was not evenly distributed therein. Accordingly, to prevent tipping of the receptacle, straps 40 are provided at each end thereof. These straps 40 are permanently attached to the ends of the receptacle and include clasps 41 at their free outer ends adapted to be attached to hooks 42 fixed centrally of the cross rails 3. It will be seen that with these straps in position the receptacle is held in a definite horizontal position and tipping cannot occur.

When it is desired to convert the receptacle from a basket to a seat, as shown in Figure 1, these straps are unhooked and therefore do not interfere with the function of the apparatus when the receptacle is serving as a swinging seat.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a foldable trestle for supporting an infants swing seat, a crank rod journaled in the top of said trestle, a seat, suspenders connecting the seat to the crank rod, and a spring balance connecting the seat with the crank of the rod whereby in one position of the crank rod the seat is suspended from the rod by said suspenders with the spring balance connection slackened and in an alternate position of the crank rod suspended from the spring balance with the suspenders slackened.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure, a seat, a crank rod journaled in said supporting structure, a pair of suspenders connecting the seat with said crank rod at relatively opposite sides of the crank of the rod for normally suspending the seat, and a spring balance connecting the seat with the crank of the rod whereby upon rotating the crank rod the seat can be arbitrarily suspended by said spring balance for weighing.

3. A combination swing and weighing apparatus, comprising, a supporting structure, a seat, and suspension means for the seat, constituting, a bar journaled in said supporting structure and having a crank portion, a pair of spaced straps of approximately uniform length, at one end connecting with the seat and at the opposite end with said bar at relatively opposite sides of the crank portion thereof, and a spring balance at one end connecting with said seat, and an opposite end with the crank portion of said bar, whereby the seat can be alternately suspended from said straps and said bar.

JAMES L. DAVIS. 

